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Health Commissioner’s contract renewed

The Auglaize County health commissioner’s contract was renewed for another two years during Tuesday’s meeting of the Auglaize County Health Board.

“It’s virtually the same contract I have had for 10 to 12 years,” Auglaize County Health Commissioner Charlotte Parsons said after the meeting.

Health Board members approved the renewal after an executive session Tuesday morning.

The contract, for an approximate $85,425 annual salary, has no changes, Parsons said.

Her contract has been renewed in two-year increments since she became health commissioner 15 years ago in Auglaize County. Prior to that she served as the health commissioner in Defiance County.

“I appreciate they have the faith in me,” Parsons said of her renewal. “A lot of changes are coming up. I don’t think it is going to be an easy two years.”

Previously, when her contract was renewed in 2011, Parsons had expected it to be her last before retirement.

Board members also approved a proposed budget for 2014 to be submitted to the state by the beginning of April, as required by law.

“It’s always a guess,” Parsons said. “This year it is more than ever with what is going on with the sequestration and what is going on with the state budget.”

Parsons said in determining what to submit for the proposal, she basically rounded off this year’s numbers as place holders.

“We have no idea what is going to happen,” Parsons said.

For 2013, the Health Department’s budget is more than $1.8 million, with more than $324,390 for Families and Children First. The budget is lower by $100,000 from 2012, based largely on a reduction in grants.

In other business, board members approved the first reading to increase vending location licenses by the consumer price index of 1.7 percent. The local fee is to increase from $26.15 to $26.59 after May 14.

The licenses are required for machines that sell sandwiches, milk, fountain pop, or anything that can spoil, Environmental Health Director Curt Anderson said.

He said one license is required per location.

Anderson said every year the Health Department increases its local fees by the latest consumer price index.

“If we don’t do it now, we can’t go back and redo it,” Anderson said.

With 62 such licenses in the county, Parsons said the increase amounts to a total of approximately $25.

The increase is to go through three readings before it can be approved.

“It will apply to next year’s licenses,” Anderson said, explaining that by the time it is approved, license fees for this year were already due.